BONUS: Christmas Special 2022

Welcome to a very special, Christmas episode of the Proper Mental podcast!

Tis the season that not everybody enjoys, for a lot of different reasons.  I wanted to put something out at Christmas that might give someone a little lift if they needed one, even if it’s just for 5 minutes. 

Sometimes 5 minutes can make all the difference.

I reached out to advocates, campaigners, authors, speakers and podcasters and friends and I asked them to record a voice note that might be nice for someone to hear over Xmas.  Some of these people I knew and some I didn’t but all of them are wonderful and inspiring and I was so touched by the response. 

You’ll have to listen to hear if there is anyone you recognise!

I’ve put them all together here in this episode.  There are some anecdotes, some advice, some kind words or useful ideas.  You can listen in one go or dip in and out when you want to. 

It might help if you’re not really in the mood for Christmas and if you love this time of year, then it will inspire you to love it even more.

I reached out to a bunch of strangers and asked them to leave a supportive message for a different bunch of strangers and all these people said yes. 

That truly is a sign that you are not alone and to me, it’s the true spirit of Xmas.

There are so many support services that stay open and available during the Xmas period, please reach out if you need to. 

Please talk to someone if you need to.

If you or anyone you know needs to find support in your local area, head to www.hubofhope.co.uk.  There’s a link in my bio.

A huge thank you to everyone involved in this episode and a huge thanks to you, for listening!

Eddie Temple Morris/Virgin Radio.  Susie Weaver/So Happy in Town.  James Withey.  Dr Mike II/NHS GP.  Natasha Devon MBE.  Kirsty Eaton & Stu Whiffin/Reach Out for Mental Health.  Gavin Thorpe/Talk Club.  Chris Young/Walk a Mile Podcast.  Amy Bullman/Mum and Mummer Podcast.  Jon Salmon/Speakers Collective.  Tom Davies/Proper Mental.

I want to wish you a Merry Christmas, in whatever shape or form that needs to take for you, and all the best for the New Year.

Here are some more links that might help:

Useful contacts - Christmas and mental health | Mind, the mental health charity - help for mental health problems

My Black Dog | Free Online Mental Health Chat Support

RED January - www.bit.ly/redjanuary2023 and click on 'Join Us'.